Omer bridge to see work in 2014

OMER — The US-23 bridge over the Rifle River will be getting some needed work done on it next year by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

According to Jack Hofweber, MDOT manager for the Bay City Transportation Service Center, the bridge is considered structurally deficient due to the poor condition of its deck. As a result, it will be getting a concrete deep overlay and a new deck put in place.

“It’s a 2014 project,” he said. “We’re just getting the information together currently.”

Hofweber added the bridge’s beams and substructure have been rated in fair condition by the federal government. Only the deck has been rated poor condition.

Omer City Clerk Sue Oliver said the city received a letter listing the scope of the work, which includes work on the bridge deck, the guardrail, and the road approach to the bridge.

She said the city received a request for utility information, and the request was passed along to Consumers Energy.

Hofweber expects one lane of traffic to be maintained each way along the bridge while the repair work is being done.

MDOT will be working on a bridge in Arenac County this year, however. MDOT spokeswoman Anita Richardson said MDOT will be repairing the Singing Bridge over the Whitney Drain starting in July and running through September. She said one lane will be closed during the bridge work, and that Turner Road traffic will be detoured for the duration.